... states and the nation to rise to the economic, demographic, and fiscal challenges ahead. ECONOMIC CHALLENGES The U.S. economy is increasingly shaped byglobalization and advances in technology, and knowledge ... both academic and appliedassessments of reading, math, and science, and rankamong the lowest of more than 20 economicallycompetitive countries on math and science achievement.38Other countries ... inour current economic climate. The United States faces economic, demographic, and fiscal realities thatthreaten our economic growth and competitiveness. The forces of globalization and technology...